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The President of the National House of Chiefs, Prof. John Nabila, has advised politicians and their followers to refrain from inflammatory remarks ahead of the December 7 general election.

He said the insults traded among opposing sides were gradually escalating, and therefore cautioned Ghanaians to put a stop to them forthwith.

Prof. Nabila said this at the second general meeting of the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi last Friday.

The President explained that although the campaign by the various parties had just started, it appeared that insults and threat to peace and name calling were on the increase.

Prof. Nabila urged politicians to desist from any act that would endanger the peace.

Endorsement

He cautioned chiefs to desist from open endorsement of political parties and their candidates because such an act could bring division among their subjects.

He reminded the chiefs that per the provisions in the 1992 constitution of Ghana they were required to remain neutral and should endeavour to adhere to it.

He expressed disappointment with the recent open endorsement of candidates and political parties by certain chiefs, adding that as fathers and mothers of the people, such acts could lead to division.

Exhibition

Prof. Nabila advised Nananom to go and check their names during the voter exhibition exercise to serve as a good example to their subjects.

He seized the opportunity to advise Ghanaians to maintain the peace before, during and after the elections to safeguard Ghana’s democracy.

The Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr Henry Seidu Daanaa, said there was the need for all to protect the dignity of the chieftaincy institution by avoiding anything that stood the chance of denting the image of the institution.

He said to ensure a smooth succession plan by the various traditional areas, his ministry in collaboration with the National House of Chiefs in 2010, initiated a Legislative Instrument (LI) on succession plan before Parliament which was passed into law.

“This is to help reduce the conflicts that engulf traditional areas when a chief dies, as some people take advantage to foment trouble in communities leading to many years of litigation,” he said.

The minister said it had become necessary to change the Chieftaincy Act to reflect the current state of affairs, saying without the amendment, it would be very difficult for queen mothers to join the House as well as chiefs to sign any LI brought before the House.

Dr Danna said another issue which would be captured in the amendment would be the empowerment of chiefs so that anybody who refuses a call by a chief in his area commits an offence.

This, according to the minister, would prevent the occurrence of conflicts in areas due to people refusing to obey chiefs in their communities.